Ecosystem Diagram

An ecosystem refers to the collective community of organisms living and interacting with their environment in a specific environment. An ecosystem diagram is a diagram that shows the direction of flow of energy and nutrients in a specific habitat system. Energy and nutrients both flow from biotic to abiotic components of the ecosystem.

An ecosystem consists of biotic i.e. living and non-living components which are non-living. Since energy cannot be destroyed, it is only converted into various forms such as kinetic, chemical or thermal energy and is recycled throughout the ecosystem. All ecosystems depend on solar energy from the sun which is then converted into other forms as their primary energy source.

Parts of an ecosystem diagram:

Ecosystem Diagram

An ecosystem is divided into two parts: abiotic components (minerals, climate, soil, water, sunlight and all other non-living factors) and biotic components (all living members). Two basic dynamics link these components: the movement of energy through the ecosystem and the cycle of nutrients within the ecosystem which are represented by arrows in different colors.

Ecosystems vary in size: some are small enough to fit within a single drop of water, while others are large enough to encompass entire landscapes and countries. Pictures of biotic and abiotic components are equally important for showing the flow of nutrients and energy in an ecosystem.

One of the main goals is to show the nutrient cycle of the 6 major elements = nts – nitrogen, oxygen,

Simple ecosystem diagram:

A simple ecosystem is one that is confined to a small environment or habitat. This means that energy and nutrients are contained in a small chakra.

Something like an aquarium or a small pond is a simple ecosystem. Ecosystem is simple because the variables i.e. the components are usually fixed.

Complex ecosystem diagram:

A complex ecosystem contains a large variety of biotic and abiotic components. It also means that the flow of energy and nutrients is not always one way. A complex ecosystem diagram shows the abiotic components of the environment and the biotic components are not only labeled but also differentiated into classes – producers, consumers and decomposers.

Biological and Abiotic Ecosystem Diagrams:

Biological and abiotic ecosystems cannot be separated. The biotic and abiotic factors together form a well-functioning ecosystem. A biocenosis is a set of living species, such as animals, plants or microorganisms, that are constantly interacting and so interdependent.

Any ecosystem contains a certain amount of organic matter, which includes all its flora and fauna; The mass of this substance is referred to as “biomass” and is calculated per unit of area arid and inhabited by the ecosystem.

The biological factors in the diagram include-

  • Producers: These are “autotrophic” organisms, including plants, algae, and some microbes that produce water, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and nitrates.
  • Consumers are classified as “heterozygous” organisms because they cannot make their own food and are referred to as producers (for example, herbivorous consumers such as cows and lambs that eat grass) as well as other consumers (carnivorous consumers). ) should depend on it.
  • Decomposer: Bacteria and fungi feed on the tissues of dead and decaying organisms known as decomposers.

A biotope is a specific physical habitat with unique physical characteristics such as climate, temperature, humidity, nutrient concentration, or pH.

Natural Ecosystem Diagram:

A natural ecosystem refers to a natural ecosystem found naturally in nature such as a forest ecosystem, a pond ecosystem or a marine ecosystem. A natural ecosystem results from the interactions between species and their surroundings. For example, an ocean is classified as a marine ecosystem, which includes algae, consumers, and decomposers.

 In this type of ecosystem, a cycle begins in which algae convert energy through photosynthesis. Energy is transmitted between species when consumers consume algae. In this system, as the consumers die, the decomposers decompose them into organic compounds. This process happens slowly over time, whereas artificial ecosystems require human intervention.

Terrestrial Ecosystem Diagram:

A terrestrial ecosystem is the interaction of biocenosis and biotope components in a specific area on terrestrial regions, i.e. land. Tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous and tropical rainforests, grasslands and deserts are all varied. Examples of terrestrial ecosystems . The type of terrestrial ecosystem present in a particular location is determined by the temperature range, average rainfall, soil type and the amount of light received.

Terrestrial ecosystem diagrams differ from aquatic ecosystem diagrams in that soil does not contain water present at the surface, and plants move from this soil/water surface throughout the terrestrial ecosystem. Water availability varies greatly throughout ecosystems (including water scarcity in some circumstances), whereas water is rarely a limiting factor for life in aquatic ecosystems. Terrestrial ecosystems often face greater seasonal and diurnal temperature differences than marine ecosystems in similar regions because of fluctuating water temperatures.

Pond Ecosystem Diagram:

A pond can be a natural or man-made ecosystem surrounding a stagnant body of freshwater. It also included the biotic and abiotic components present in the water and around this water body.

Pond ecosystems are different from other types of water ecosystems. Unlike river ecosystems, which are classified as lotic, pond ecosystems are classified as lentic because the water in ponds remains stable for long periods.

A lake or pond can have three areas, depending on the depth of the water and the types of flora and animals. The different areas are as follows:

  1. A coastal zone is a shallow water area that is usually populated with root plants.
  2. The limnic zone extends from shallow to effective light penetration depth, and related fauna include small crustaceans, rotifers, insects and their larvae, and algae.
  3. Pro-fundal zones- These are areas of deep water with no effective light penetration. Mussels, crabs and insects are examples of related organisms.

Coral Reef Ecosystem Diagram:

Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Corals, the invertebrates largely responsible for reef formation, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including giant reef-building colonies, elegant floating fans, or even small, solitary species. Thousands of coral species have been found; Some thrive in warm, shallow tropical waters, while others live in cooler, deeper ocean depths.

Coral reefs are composed of various coals which are consumers in themselves. Others include anemones and shellfish. The main producers are algae and kelp and some diatomic organisms such as zooplankton and phytoplankton.

Some animals, such as sharks and dolphins, do not live in the reefs themselves, but depend on them for food. Corals living in shallow water have a symbiotic association with photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae that live in their tissues. The coral provides a safe environment as well as substances needed by zooxanthellae for photosynthesis. In turn, the algae make carbohydrates and oxygen, which the coral consumes for sustenance. Algae also aid in the removal of waste from the coral. Mutualism refers to a type of symbiosis in which both partners benefit from the interaction.

Deep sea corals lack zooxanthellae and survive in fairly deep or cold marine environments. Unlike their shallow-water relatives, which rely primarily on photosynthesis to make food, deep-sea corals derive a large portion of their energy from plankton and organic matter.

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